BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — A Massachusetts lawsuit claims JetBlue employees wouldn't allow a man in leg braces to board a flight with his service dog without first explaining his disability.
Brian Roberts filed a complaint Nov. 1 in Suffolk County Superior Court against Jet Blue Airways Corporation alleging discrimination.
Roberts, according to his complaint, is handicapped, including wearing leg braces and having limited ability to walk and stand. He claims that he booked a round-trip flight for Oct, 27, 2021, from Boston's Logan International to Palm Beach International and submitted a U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation form to JetBlue prior to his flight for his service dog "Jimmy."
Roberts alleges that a JetBlue manager insisted that unless he disclosed the medical condition for which he needed his service animal, Jimmy would have to travel in another part of the aircraft for an additional charge of $100.
He further alleges the manager's questions were improper, unreasonable and in violation of his right to medical privacy. Roberts claims as a result of JetBlue's actions, he had to book a flight with another airline but still required a 200-mile drive to reach his destination.
Roberts seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Nicholas Guerrera of Shaheen Guerrera & O'Leary LLC in North Andover.